LAUNCH MISSING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 202, 27 July 1937, Page 2

LAUNCH MISSING

FIVE MEN ABOARD. FEARS FELT FOR SAFETY. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, July 26. Fears are entertained for the safety of five men who left Kennedy’s Bay, Coromandel Peninsula, on Friday night in the 32-foot pleasure launch Ngaru for Auckland and who have not been heard of since Saturday afternoon when, it is believed, the vessel was sighted off Hook’s Point, Waiheke Island. The owners of the luanch were Harold, Reginald and Wilson Bright, aged 22, 20 and 16 respectively, who are engaged in farming at Kennedy’s Bay. They were accompanied by Jack Bell, aged 18, who is employed on his father’s farm at Kennedy’s Bay, and Peter Noyer, aged 67, an employee on the same farm. The party was coming to Auckland to see the Springboks in action against Auckland. Leaving Kennedy’s Bay at 9 o’clock on Friday night, the party was seen 12 hours later at Colville, where the launch called to take aboard provisions for the trip and lubricating oil. Mr P. T. Pickering, stepfather of the Bright Brothers, stated by telephone from Kennedy’s Bay to-night that the Ngaru’s engine had only recently been installed, and that the water-pump had not been working too well. “The party told people at Colville they were having trouble with the new engine.’’ Mr Pickering said, “hut they hoped to reach Auckland in time for the match. They said they intended to have the water-pump fixed at Auckland, and they left Colville on Saturday morning with sails set.” The next report, which was not definite. was that 1 the Ngaru was off Hook’s Point, Waiheke Island, at about three o’clock on Saturday afternoon, since when nothing has been seen or heard of the boat. The New Zealand Herald’s Waiheke Island correspondent stated tonight that the entire island had been communicated with to ascertain whether any sign of the craft had been seen by residents. Seas were rough. The Admiralty survey ship Endeavour has been' communicated with from Waiheke Island, but tonight it had seen no sign of the missing launch. If the weather moderates it is possible the Endeavour will put off a launch with a shore party to conduct a search. In any case the Endeavour will take part in the search to-morrow unless the Ngaru is found in the meantime. A message published on page 8 states that the men have been found.